Don't underestimate the ability of the courts and the state to pull the rug out from under the legal system. Speaking as an outsider from Canada, it looks very much like all bets are off in terms of respecting checks and balances in the United States and it's very realistically possible that unless there is a big upset and turn around the next couple of years any traces of democracy in the US will be a farcical nod to what the founders built as a way to paper over the abuses.

I really hope I am wrong as my perspective is not anti-American, it's specifically anti-corruption and pro-democracy.

As long you are burning more cash than you bring in, you are beholden to investors - whether it is retail, VCs, banks or a government giving you a bailout it is still someone signing you a check.

Golden shares, vetos, PBC, charter are all paper tigers , they only matter if/when the firm is self-sustaining business with no outside capital needed, the alternative to not listening to investors till then is crash and burn.

After that point, you will have to listen to the paying customers (sometimes but not always they are also users ) as they are ones now funding your organization.

Bottom line you are always listening to someone.

google dropped "dont be evil" despite being the definition of the company

these are just words at a time and place.

sama showed that you can futz with it, and as long as you spend enough in court on judges, aint nobody gonna stop you